What’s it like for Black queer youth who identify as gay, bisexual and/or transgender to come of age and transition to adulthood in Canadian urban environments like Toronto? Obtaining stable housing is one of the most important transitions facing young adults, and racialized LGBTQ2S young adults are particularly vulnerable to being unable to successfully obtain this marker of adult status. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the experiences of Black queer youth, specifically those who identify as gay, bisexual and transgender, the multiple forms of discrimination and stigma they face daily in their families, schools and communities, and the impact these intersecting forms of systematic discrimination have on housing stability and homelessness. The author will discuss the limited academic literature on queer youth of colour who are unstably housed and experiencing homelessness, and narratives of gay, bisexual and transgender Black queer youth from my own research on the educational trajectories of young Black men. Their narratives highlight lived experiences of violence, trauma and resilience that raise important questions about how gay community resources and spaces can address the immediate needs and future aspirations of racialized LGBTQ2S youth who are unstably housed and experiencing homelessness.
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The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is the largest national research institute devoted to homelessness in Canada. The COH is the curator of the Homeless Hub.
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The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is the largest national research institute devoted to homelessness in Canada. The COH is the curator of the Homeless Hub.
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- Introduction
- Chapters
- 2. Homeless & Street-Involved Indigenous LGBTQ2S Youth in British Columbia: Intersectionality, Challenges, Resilience & Cues for Action
- 2.1 It’s A Kiki...
- 3. Pathways Into and Out of Homelessness for LGBTQ2S Youth
- 3.1 Ruth Ellis Center Family Preservation Program, Detroit, Michigan
- 4. Discrimination & Mental Health Outcomes of Black Youth Experiencing Homelessness
- 4.1 Central Toronto Youth Services
- 5. The Youth Homelessness Crisis and a Path to End It: Interventions to Better Serve LGBTQ2S Youth Experiencing Homelessness
- 5.1 Youth Wisdom, Harm Reduction & Housing First: RainCity Housing’s Queer & Trans Youth Housing Project
- 5.2 Messy and Magical: A Closer Look at the GLBT Host Home Program
- 5.3 YMCA Sprott House: Creating a Better Space for LGBTQ2S Youth in Toronto
- 5.4 Ozone House: LGBTQ2S Inclusive Emergency Services
- 6. Black Queer Youth, Unstable Housing and Homelessness: Understanding the Impact of Family Conflict, School and Community-Based Violence on Racialized LGBTQ2S Youth
- 6.1 The Black Queer Youth Initiative: Challenging Racism, Stigma & Exclusion
- 6.2 Unapologetic: The Young Black Gay Men’s Leadership Initiative
- 7. Addressing the Vocational Needs of LGBTQ2S Youth Experiencing Homelessness with Supported Employment
- 7.1 LEAP into Action: Preparing LGBTQ2S Youth for the Work Force
- 8. Addressing the Legal Needs of LGBTQ2S Youth Experiencing Homelessness
- 8.1 The Peter Cicchino Youth Project & the Reality of Street-Involved Youth & Youth Experiencing Homelessness in NYC
- 9. Policy into Practice: How Government Can Play a Role in Supporting LGBTQ2S Youth
- 9.1 A Provincial Response to LGBTQ2S Youth Homelessness
- Conclusion
- Chapters
- Where Am I Going to Go? Intersectional Approaches to Ending LGBTQ2S Youth Homelessness in Canada & the U.S.
- Chapters
- 6. Black Queer Youth, Unstable Housing and Homelessness: Understanding the Impact of Family Conflict, School and Community-Based Violence on Racialized LGBTQ2S Youth